The Local Organising Committee of the 2011 World Championships today held a special event in the South Korean city to celebrate the milestone day with the competition set to take place from August 27 to September 4.

The world's top athletes, including Jamaican sprint superstar Usain Bolt, will be in action in Daegu, which is the biggest athletics event ahead of the London 2012 Olympics next year, and Diack is confident the event can match the success of the last World Championships in Berlin in 2009.

"The World Athletics Family has only 30 days to wait before the start of the 2011 IAAF World Championships in Daegu, Korea on 27 August," said the 78-year-old from Senegal.

"The IAAF World Championships, the top competition of our World Athletics Series, is a precious jewel, not only of Athletics, but of the whole international sporting calendar.

"Let me highlight some of the impressive statistics from the last IAAF World Championships held two years ago in Berlin in Germany.

"Nine competition days, 2000 athletes, 200 countries, 10,500 officials and volunteers, 500,000 spectators, more than $7 million (£4 million) in prize money and eight billion TV viewers.

"Berlin has certainly set the bar high for 2011 but in athletics, as in life in general, to beat the best, you must have ambition.

"I know that the planning and preparation of the 13th edition of the World Championships in Daegu has been extraordinary and we continue to work hard together in the same dedicated and professional manner to ensure a record breaking performance when the Championships close on 4 September.

"But despite all the hard work we also embrace and enjoy this tremendous sporting spectacle.

"During nine days we will watch the greatest athletes in the world, from more than 200 teams, together in Daegu for the biggest sporting event of 2011.

"As we approach the last lap, I offer my best wishes to all involved in the organisation of the championships.

"Good luck and let's get ready to welcome the world."

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